For us humans, we enjoy lots of things with peppermint in them (especially around the Holidays) like candies, breads, cookies, cakes and frosting. Some people may even enjoy a scoop of peppermint ice cream from time to time. But, you may wonder about your feline friend. Can cats eat peppermint?
This may be a question that you and other responsible pet owners may have. We will dive deep into this question and discover the truth about cats and peppermint.
Is Peppermint Safe for Cats?
The short answer is no, peppermint is not safe for cats to eat. Whether it is the mint plant itself or peppermint foods, it’s best to keep them out of reach of your fur baby. The plant itself contains a small amount of the toxic element and your cat would have to digest a large amount for it to hurt them.
If your cat has super sensitive skin, coming in contact with a mint plant could possibly cause skin irritation for your cat’s skin.
You may be wondering, why is peppermint bad for cats? The scent of peppermint itself is not harmful to your cat, but what it contains is the problem. Any food or candy that contains mint or peppermint oil is toxic to cats. It’s the mint oil or peppermint oil that is toxic to your furry friend.
Even the ASPCA lists mint plant, also known as garden mint, as being toxic to cats because it contains mint oil.
So, you want to make sure to keep all the plants in the mint family whether it’s peppermint plants or garden mint plants away from your cat as they all can be considered toxic plants for cats because of the oil that they contain.
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Are Cats Attracted to the Smell of Mint?
Strangely enough, cats seem to be attracted to the smell of mint. Some people believe that it is because mint smell similar to that of the ever so popular catnip. Cats actually don’t even seem to be able to tell the difference between catnip, mint and peppermint plants, so you may actually even find you cat chewing on the leaves of the plants.
If you have a peppermint plant in you house, you should not be surprised if you find your feline friend trying to munch on the peppermint leaves as they seem to really like the texture of the little leaves.
Although, catnip and catmint are both completely safe for cats. There is a difference between catmint and garden mint. There are many different types of mint plants. Some are toxic to cats while others aren’t, so it is alway important to do your due research.
Mint Poisoning in Cats
Mint can be found in the wild, so your cat, especially if it is an outdoor cat, may come into contact with wild mint plants without you knowing. Generally, your cat would have to eat a very large amount of mint before signs would begin to show. It is actually extremely rare for mint poisoning to even be found in cats.
But, just to be on the safe side, you may be wondering what the signs and symptoms are of mint poisoning in your cat. below I will list the most common side effect that can happen to your cat.
While your cat consuming a small amount of mint or peppermint oil may not cause severe reactions or even prove to be fatal, your cat can experience gastrointestinal upset of some kind by even digesting a small amount of peppermint oil. Some of those symptoms can include
- Nausea
- Vomiting or Excessive Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
If you know that your cat has eaten any type of mint in any form, whether as a plant, leaf or oil, you will want to keep a close eye. If your cat’s behavior changes or starts showing any symptoms of mint poisoning, you will want to contact your vet ASAP.
Can I Still Use Peppermint Essential Oils Around my Cat?
The use of essential oils are very popular and peppermint is a very popular essential oil in itself, so I know that this is a very important question that you may have.
It is recommended for your cat’s health, to not use any type of mint or peppermint essential oils around them, like in diffusers. If you do use of keep different forms of mint oil in your house, it is best to keep them sealed and out of the reach of cats.
Even if you use it and rub it on your skin, you will want to make sure that it is completely wiped off before handling your fur baby.
Can I Still Grow Mint and Own Cats?
If you enjoy using fresh mint in your own foods or even enjoy a glass of peppermint tea, you may wonder if you will have to give up gardening mint plants for your cat. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to keep your cat safe while still growing mint in your herb gardens.
The easiest option is to grow your mint outdoors, but this only works if your cat is strictly an indoor cat. You can always hand your mint plants high up where your cat can’t reach them like eave of your house or patio.
If you do grow mint indoors, the best option is to place it in a room where your cat does not go in or is not allowed into. If not, you could always try hangin the pot in a corner or a spot that is high enough to be out of reach of your cat.
Cat Safety and Peppermint Q & A’s
Here is a list of questions that you may have regarding your cat’s well being when it comes to peppermint.
Is menthol toxic for cats?
Menthol is a chemical that is naturally found in peppermint and other mint plants. Sadly, yes, it is not good and can even prove to be toxic for cats.
Can you use essential oil diffusers around cats?
To err on the side of caution, it is best to not use diffusers with essential oils in them around cats or in areas where you cats frequently go. Too much and too strong of essential oil fumes can prove to be bad for your cats respiratory health and cause respiratory distress.
Is peppermint oil safe for my cat?
No, peppermint oil is not safe for your cats. It can also be labeled as menthol in some products. In severe cases, If too much peppermint oil is ingested or even inhaled, it can prove to be deadly for your feline friends.
Are all peppermint foods bad for cats?
It use to be where all peppermint foods and candies (like candy canes) were made with peppermint essential oils, but now a lot of peppermint flavored foods are made with artificial flavors and not the actual mint oils. It is still best practice to not feed your cat anything that is flavored with mint or peppermint.
Does peppermint make a good cat repellent?
I’m not sure that using peppermint plants as a cat repellent would really work. Some cats dislike the smell of peppermint, while it doesn’t bother other cats. I’m not sure that it would actually work to keep cats out of a specific areas as cats may just give it a little sniff and walk on by.
Can you use peppermint oil on cats for fleas?
You will hear some people actually recommend using peppermint oil on their cats to help get rid of fleas. There is no scientific evidence that peppermint oil even kills fleas. There are actually more risks involved by putting peppermint oil on your cat than helpful benefits.
So, no, don’t put any peppermint oil on you cat to kill or repel fleas.
What if my cat licks essential oils?
If you have reason to suspect that your cat has licked or ingested any type of essential oils, it is always best to contact your local vet as soon as you possibly can. Be sure to keep a close eye on them and watch them to observe for any odd signs or sickness.
While we as humans may use a form of peppermint or mint oil ever day of our lives from mint candies to help with our bad breath to diffusing mint essential oils, I think that we can all agree that it is a good idea for our feline companions to have nothing to do with this toxic substance. As always, cat owners have duty to keep their feline friends safe and healthy. If you ever have any concerns for your cat, it is always best to contact a vet for further help.
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